River Bandits top Cougars 2-1

DAVENPORT, Iowa — The Quad Cities River Bandits snapped a scoreless tie with a pair of sixth-inning solo home runs and hung on for a 2-1 victory over the Kane County Cougars on Wednesday at Modern Woodmen Park.

Pierce Johnson (3-4) started for the Cougars (24-27) and allowed 1 hit through the first 4 innings before a pair of singles put him in a jam in the bottom of the fifth. Johnson wiggled out of trouble by striking out Jordan Scott.

Starter Mike Hauschild of River Bandits (29-23) did not give up a hit until the top of the fifth when Carlos Escobar singled with two outs. Hauschild gave way to Colton Cain (2-5) in the sixth, and he pitched 3 shutout relief innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, the River Bandits’ Teoscar Hernandez blasted a homer off Johnson. Justin Amlung came on in relief and surrendered a solo shot to Jonathan Singleton.

In the Cougars’ ninth, John Neely struck out the first two batters before Marco Hernandez reached on a throwing error. Escobar singled to drive home Hernandez, but Reggie Golden grounded out to end the game as Neely earned his eighth save.

The Cougars and River Bandits conclude their three-game series today at 7 p.m. Right-hander Jose Rosario (0-0) will start for the Cougars against fellow righty Jordan Jankowski (2-0).